TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to digital switching networks. More particularly,
the present invention relates to a system and method for preventing time-walking when
switching between redundant clocks in a digital switching network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In a digital switching network, a system clock can be used to drive multiple modules.
The system clock can also provide a synchronization pulse to each module it drives
thus enabling the modules to communicate with each other. If the clock fails for any
reason, the digital switching network switches to a redundant clock to avoid any interruption
in communication between the modules. However, data can be lost in some digital switching
networks due to a scenario called time-walking.
[0003] Time-walking can occur if two clocks, independent in phase and fixed to the same
frequency, are repeatedly switched to be the selected clock. Time-walking steps the
time base of occurrence for the synchronous circuitry within the digital switching
network which uses the selected clock. If time-walking is not prevented, it can occur
that data will no longer be reliably switched throughout the digital switching network
without reconfiguration. An example of the time walking scenario is further explained
below in FIGURES 1 through 3.
[0004] FIGURE 1 shows the block diagram of a prior art digital switching network 100. The
prior art digital switching network 100 is comprised of clock one 105, clock two 110,
selector circuit A 120, selector circuit B 125, module A 130, module B 135, and module
C 140. Selector circuit A 120 and selector circuit B 125 switch between clock one
105 and clock two 110 when either clock fails. For the purpose of this example, module
A 130, module B 135, and module C 140 are simple eight (8) state counters that produce
a pulse on the eighth state. Module A 130 and module B 135 pass data between each
other. Module C 140 provides a steady state reference while selector circuit A 120
and selector circuit B 125 switch between clock one 105 and clock two 110.
[0005] In FIGURE 1 that a delay 115 is between clock two 110 and selector circuit A 120.
Thus, clock one 105 and clock two 110 at selector circuit A 120 are not in phase.
There is no delay between either clock one 105 or clock two 110 and selector circuit
B 125. Thus, clock one 105 and clock two 110 at selector circuit B 125 are in phase.
Module C 140 is driven only by clock one 105.
[0006] FIGURE 2 shows the timing diagram at selector circuit A 205, the timing diagram at
selector circuit B 210, and the timing diagram at module C 215 under steady state
conditions (i.e. no switching between clock one 105 and clock two 110 at selector
circuit A 120 or selector circuit B 125). As shown in FIGURE 2, clock one 105 and
clock two 110 are identical in frequency. Since no switching occurs and clock one
105 is in phase at selector circuit A 120, at selector circuit B 125, and at module
C 140, no time-walking will occur. Thus the module A pulse 145, module B pulse 150,
and the module C pulse 155 shown in timing diagrams 205, 210, and 215, respectively,
all occur at the same time.
[0007] FIGURE 3 shows the timing diagram at selector circuit A 305, the timing diagram at
selector circuit B 310, and the timing diagram at module C 315 where selector circuit
A 120 and selector circuit B 125 switch from clock one 105 to clock two 110 and back
to clock one 105 again. Again, clock one 105 and clock two 110 are identical in frequency,
however, the timing diagram at selector circuit A 305 shows that clock one 105 and
clock two 110 are not in phase due to the delay 115. If the selector circuit A 120
does not take into account the phase difference between clock one 105 and clock two
110, the module A pulse 145 will walk in time relative the module B pulse 150 and
module C pulse 155 as shown in FIGURE 3. This time-walking scenario can cause data
passing between module A 130 and module B 135 to be lost. More data will continue
to be lost if selector circuit A 120 continues to switch between clock one 105 and
clock two 110.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a system and method that substantially eliminates
or reduces disadvantages and problems associated with previously developed systems
and methods used for preventing time-walking in a digital switching network. More
specifically, the present invention provides a system for preventing time-walking
in a digital switching network when switching between redundant clocks identical in
frequency and independent in phase, where the highest resolution frequency available
in the digital switching network is that of the redundant clocks.
[0009] The system for preventing time-walking in a digital switching network includes a
clock divider selection circuit, an enhanced digital phase aligner, and a clock select
control circuit. The clock divider selection circuit outputs an on-line divided clock
and an off-line clock to the enhanced digital phase aligner. The enhanced digital
phase aligner can sample the on-line divided clock with four phases of the off-line
clock and outputs an off-line divided clock which is time shifted such that the off-line
divided clock is in phase with the on-line divided clock within plus or minus one-half
the clock period of the off-line clock.
[0010] The clock select control circuit receives the on-line divided clock from the clock
divider selection circuit, the off-line divided clock from the enhanced digital phase
aligner, and a smoothed clock. When a request is made to switch between a first clock
and a second clock, the clock select control circuit compares the on-line divided
clock and the off-line divided clock with the smoothed clock and outputs a clock select
control signal to the clock divider selection circuit.
[0011] The present invention provides an important technical advantage by providing a system
and method for preventing time-walking in a digital switching network when switching
between redundant clocks which are identical in frequency but independent in phase.
[0012] The present invention provides another technical advantage by providing a more stable
environment so customer data can be more reliably switched throughout a digital switching
network, thus saving the customer money.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof,
reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like features and wherein:
FIGURE 1 shows the block diagram of a prior art digital switching network;
FIGURE 2 shows the timing diagram at selector circuit A, the timing diagram at selector
circuit B, and the timing diagram at module C under steady state conditions;
FIGURE 3 shows the timing diagram at selector circuit A, the timing diagram at selector
circuit B, and the timing diagram at module C where selector circuit A and selector
circuit B switch from clock one to clock two and back to clock one again;
FIGURE 4 shows one example of a circuit which prevents time-walking in a digital switching
network during clock selection according to the present invention;
FIGURE 5 shows one example of a circuit of the enhanced digital phase aligner according
to the present invention;
FIGURE 6 shows a timing diagram depicting how the clock generator divides the off-line
clock into four phases according to the present invention;
FIGURE 7 shows one example of time shifter circuit according to the present invention;
FIGURE 8 shows a table detailing the amount of time delay in nanoseconds after each
flip flop from the on-line divided clock input for the first and second serial registers;
FIGURE 9 shows one example of the clock select control circuit according to the present
invention; and
FIGURE 10 shows a clock control diagram which details the switch times for the first
and second clocks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the FIGUREs, like
numerals being used to refer to like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.
[0015] The present invention provides a system and method for preventing time-walking in
a digital switching network when switching from a first clock to a second clock where
said first and second clock are identical in frequency, independent in phase, and
the highest resolution frequency available is that of said first and second clock.
The present invention can include a clock divider selection circuit, an enhanced digital
phase aligner, and a clock select control circuit. The system for preventing time-walking
in a digital switching network includes a clock divider selection circuit, an enhanced
digital phase aligner, and a clock select control circuit. The clock divider selection
circuit outputs an on-line divided clock and an off-line clock to the enhanced digital
phase aligner.
[0016] The enhanced digital phase aligner samples the on-line divided clock with four phases
of the off-line clock and outputs an off-line divided clock which is time shifted
such that the off-line divided clock is in phase with the on-line divided clock within
plus or minus one-half the clock period of the off-line clock. The clock select control
circuit receives the on-line divided clock from the clock divider selection circuit,
the off-line divided clock from the enhanced digital phase aligner, and a smoothed
clock. When a request is made to switch between a first clock and a second clock,
the clock select control circuit compares the on-line divided clock and the off-line
divided clock with the smoothed clock and outputs a clock select control signal to
the clock divider selection circuit. FIGURE 4 shows one example of a circuit which
prevents time-walking in a digital switching network during clock selection according
to the present invention 400. The time-walking prevention circuit 400 includes a clock
divider selection circuit 405, an enhanced digital phase aligner 440, a phase lock
loop 470, a clock select control circuit 475, and a clock divider jamming circuit
490. The clock divider selection circuit 405 includes a first clock divider circuit
410, a second clock divider circuit 415, a first multiplexer 420, and a second multiplexer
425. The clock divider jamming circuit 490 includes a third multiplexer 450 and a
fourth multiplexer 455. For the purpose of this example, the first and second clock
divider circuits 410 and 415, respectively, are divide by eight (8) divider circuits,
however, other sized divider circuits may be used. Also, for the purpose of this example,
the first, second, third and fourth multiplexers 420, 425, 450, and 455, respectively,
are 2:1 multiplexers, however, other sizes may be used.
[0017] The clock divider selection circuit 405 receives a first clock 105 and a second clock
110 which are out of phase with respect to one another. The first clock 105 is input
into the first clock divider circuit 410 and immediately gets divided by eight (8).
The second clock 110 is input into the second clock divider circuit 415 and immediately
gets divided by eight (8). Once the first clock 105 and the second clock 110 are divided
by eight (8), they are both input into the second multiplexer 425. The first clock
105 and the second clock 110 also are input into the first multiplexer 420. The first
multiplexer 420 and the second multiplexer 425 receive a clock select control signal
480 from the clock select control circuit 475. The first multiplexer 420 outputs either
the first clock 105 or the second clock 110 to the enhanced digital phase aligner
440 as the off-line clock 435 based on the clock select control signal 480. Similarly,
the second multiplexer 425 outputs either the divided first clock or the divided second
clock to the enhanced digital phase aligner 440 as the on-line divided clock 430 based
on the clock select control signal 480. For the purpose of this example, assume that
the divided first clock is selected as the on-line divided clock 430 and the second
clock 110 is selected as the off-line clock 435.
[0018] Since the first clock 105 and the second clock 110 are out of phase, the purpose
of the enhanced digital phase aligner 440 is to pass the on-line divided clock 430
to the off-line regime. Thus the enhanced digital phase aligner 440 receives the on-line
divided clock 430 from the clock divider selection circuit 405, receives the off-line
clock 435 from the clock divider selection circuit 405, and outputs an off-line divided
clock 445 which is time shifted such that the off-line divided clock 445 is in phase
with the on-line divided clock 430 within plus or minus one-half the clock period
of the off-line clock 420.
[0019] Once the off-line divided clock 445 is output from the enhanced digital phase aligner
440, it is input into the clock select control circuit 475. The clock select control
circuit 475 also receives the on-line divided clock 430 from the clock divider selection
circuit 405 and a smoothed clock 485 from the phase lock loop 470. Once a request
is made to switch between the first clock 105 and the second clock 110, the clock
select control circuit 475 evaluates the on-line divided clock 430 and the off-line
divided clock 445 with the smoothed clock 485 and outputs a clock select control signal
480 to the first multiplexer 420 and the second multiplexer 425 in the clock divider
selection circuit 405. As stated before, the first multiplexer 420 selects either
the first clock 105 or the second clock 110 as the off-line clock 435 based on the
clock select control signal 480. Similarly, as stated before, the second multiplexer
425 selects either the first divided clock or the second divided clock as the on-line
divided clock 430 based on the clock select control signal 480.
[0020] The off-line divided clock 445 is also output to the clock divider jamming circuit
490. The clock divider jamming circuit 490 also receives the on-line divided clock
430 from the clock divider selection circuit 405 and the clock select control signal
480 from the clock select control circuit 475. The clock selection control signal
480, the off-line divided clock 445, and the on-line divided clock 430 are each input
into the third multiplexer 450 and the fourth multiplexer 455. The third multiplexer
450 outputs either the on-line divided clock 430 or the off-line divided clock 445
as the first clock divider jamming signal 460 based on the clock select control signal
480. Similarly, the fourth multiplexer 455 outputs either the on-line divided clock
430 or the off-line divided clock 445 as the second clock divider jamming signal 465
based on the clock select control signal 480.
[0021] The first clock divider jamming signal 460 is fed back to the first clock divider
circuit 410 located in the clock divider selection circuit 405. The second clock divider
jamming signal 465 is fed back to the second clock divider circuit 415 located in
the clock divider selection circuit 405. The purpose of the first and second clock
divider jamming signals 460 and 465, respectively, is to jam the first and second
clock divider circuits 410 and 415, respectively so that both the first clock divider
circuit 410 and the second clock divider circuit 415 output divided signals that look
exactly the same except for the phase shift which is equal to the same phase shift
as between the first clock 105 and the second clock 110.
[0022] FIGURE 5 shows one example of the circuitry for the enhanced digital phase aligner
440 according to the present invention. The enhanced digital phase aligner 440 includes
a clock generator 505, a phase analyzer 510, and a time shifter 515. The phase analyzer
510 includes a data sampler 520, a control circuit 525, a counter 530, a first flip
flop 535, a second flip flop 540, a first serial shift register 545, a second serial
shift register 550 a fifth multiplexer 555, and a third flip flop 560. For the purpose
of this example, the first and second serial shift registers, 545 and 550 are 1:8
serial shift registers, the counter 530 is a four (4) bit counter, and the fifth multiplexer
is a 16:1 multiplexer, however, other sizes may be used.
[0023] The clock generator 505 receives the off-line clock 435 from the said clock divider
selection circuit, generates four phases of the off-line clock 435, and inputs the
four phases into the phase analyzer 510. For the purpose of this example the four
phases produced are 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees. Other phases may be produced. FIGURE
6 shows a timing diagram of the four phases. After entering the phase analyzer 510,
the four phases are first received at the data sampler 520. The on-line divided clock
430 is also received at the data sampler 520. The data sampler 520 uses the four phases
of the off-line clock 435 to sample the on-line divided clock 430 and outputs multiple
data samples of the on-line divided clock 430 to the control circuit 525.
[0024] The control circuit 525 analyzes the multiple data samples from the data sampler
520 and selects the phase of the off-line clock which is the furthest from the leading
edge of the on-line divided clock 430. When ever the currently selected sample point
gets closer than ninety (90) degrees to a data transition, the output sample is changed
by one hundred eighty (180) degrees. This is done by sending a signal from the control
circuit 525 to the counter 530 which either increments or decrements the counter 530.
Once the counter 530 is either incremented or decremented, the counter 530 sends a
phase select control signal 470 to the fifth multiplexer 555 which then adjusts the
sample one hundred eighty (180) degrees based on the count value. If the count roles
over (i.e. 0000 to 1111 or 1111 to 0000), a spill will be indicated by outputting
a spill signal 465 from the counter 530. The phase select control signal 470 is also
output to the time shifter 515.
[0025] FIGURE 7 shows one example of the time shifter 515 circuit according to the present
invention. The time shifter 515 includes a multiplexer 705, a tapped shift register
710, and a flip flop 715. The time shifter 515 receives the off-line clock 435 from
the clock divider selection circuit 405, the sampled on-line divided clock 475 from
the phase analyzer 510 and the phase select control signal 470 from the phase analyzer
515. The purpose of time shifter 515 is to time shift the off-line divided clock 445
such that the off-line divided clock 445 is in phase with the on-line divided clock
430 within plus or minus one-half the clock period of the off-line clock 435. The
selection on the multiplexer 705 is based upon the count value of the counter 530.
That information is carried from the counter 530 to the multiplexer 705 through the
phase select control signal 470. The three least significant bits of the count value
are used to determine how much delay needs to be added to the sampled on-line divided
clock 470 so that the edges of the off-line divided clock 445 are as close as possible
to the edges of the on-line divided clock 430.
[0026] TABLE 1 shows a table that describes how much delay is needed to time shift the sampled
on-line divided clock 475.
Table 1
Flip-Flop (FF) |
Delay after FF (ns) from online divided clock input |
County State (2 downto 0) |
Delay Needed to Add (ns) so that the total delay is n times the period of the online
divided clock (+/- half the period of the offline clock). Since the online dock is
a divide by 8 of the input 155 MHz clock, n=48 ns. |
A |
6 |
- |
|
C |
6 |
- |
|
C0 |
12 |
0000 |
48 - 12 - 12 - 6 = 18 |
A0 |
18 |
0001 |
48 - 18 - 12 - 6 = 12 |
C1 |
24 |
0010 |
48 - 24 - 12 - 6 = 6 |
A1 |
30 |
0011 |
48 - 30 - 12 - 6 = 0 |
C2 |
36 |
0100 |
96 - 36 - 12 - 6 = 42 |
A2 |
42 |
0101 |
96 - 42 - 12 - 6 = 36 |
C3 |
48 |
0110 |
96 - 48 - 12 - 6 = 30 |
A3 |
54 |
0111 |
96 - 54 - 12 - 6 = 24 |
C4 |
60 |
1000 |
96 - 60 - 12 - 6 = 18 |
A4 |
66 |
1001 |
96 - 36 - 12 - 6 = 42 |
C5 |
72 |
1010 |
96 - 72 - 12 - 6 = 6 |
A5 |
78 |
1011 |
96 - 78 - 12 - 6 = 0 |
C6 |
84 |
1100 |
144 - 84 - 12 - 6 = 42 |
A6 |
90 |
1101 |
144 - 90 - 12 - 6 = 36 |
C7 |
96 |
1110 |
144 - 96 - 12 - 6 = 30 |
A7 |
102 |
1111 |
144 - 102 - 12 - 6 = 24 |
Selected Data |
Adds 12 ns as shown in the above equations |
Offline Divide Clock |
Adds 6 ns as shown in the above equations |
[0027] For example, under the Flip Flop column (FF), there is A and C. If C0 is selected,
less than one period will need to be added to the sampled on-line divided clock 475.
In the last column, 48 nanoseconds represents the total period. First, the 12 nanoseconds
that C0 adds is subtracted, next the 12 nanoseconds that the flip flop 715 adds is
subtracted, finally the 6 seconds that flip flop C adds is subtracted. Thus 18 nanoseconds
is needed to time shift the off-line divided clock 445 such that the off-line divided
clock 445 is in phase with the on-line divided clock 430 within plus or minus one-half
the clock period of the off-line clock 435. The tapped shift register 710 will then
tap off of the third flip flop in the tapped shift register 710 since each flip flop
in the tapped shift register 710 has a delay of 6.
[0028] FIGURE 8 shows one example of the clock select control circuit 475. The clock select
control circuit includes a multiplexer 905 and multiple flip flops 910. The on-line
divided clock 430 and the off-line divided clock 445 are input into the multiplexer
905. The smoothed clock 485 is input into the multiplexer 905 and in each flip flop
910. FIGURE 9 shows a clock control timing diagram 1000 which details the two times
when the first clock 105 can switch to the second clock 110 or when the second clock
110 can switch to the first clock 105. When a request is made to switch between the
first clock 105 and the second clock 110, the clock select control circuit 475 compares
said on-line divided clock and said off-line divided clock to said smoothed clock
and determines whether the request falls in either the first switch time 1005 or the
second switch time 1010. Next, the clock select control circuit 475 sends out a clock
select control signal to the clock divider select circuit and the clock divider jamming
circuit.
[0029] In summary, the present invention provides a system and method for preventing time-walking
in a digital switching network when switching from a first clock to a second clock
where said first and second clock are identical in frequency, independent in phase,
and the highest resolution frequency available is that of said first and second clock
includes a clock divider selection circuit, an enhanced digital phase aligner, and
a clock select control circuit. The clock divider selection circuit outputs an on-line
divided clock and an off-line clock to the enhanced digital phase aligner. The enhanced
digital phase aligner samples the on-line divided clock with four phases of the off-line
clock and outputs an off-line divided clock which is time shifted such that the off-line
divided clock is in phase with the on-line divided clock within plus or minus one-half
the clock period of the off-line clock.
[0030] The clock select control circuit receives the on-line divided clock from the clock
divider selection circuit, the off-line divided clock from the enhanced digital phase
aligner and a smoothed clock. When a request is made to switch between clock one and
clock two, the clock select control circuit evaluates the on-line divided clock and
the off-line divided clock with the smoothed clock and outputs a clock select control
signal to the clock divider selection circuit.
[0031] Although the present invention has been described in detail, it should be understood
that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as described by the appended claims.
1. A system for preventing time-walking in a digital switching network when switching
from a first clock to a second clock, comprising:
a clock divider selection circuit operable to output an on-line divided clock and
an off-line clock;
an enhanced digital phase aligner operable to receive said on-line divided clock and
said off-line clock from said clock divider selection circuit and output an off-line
divided clock which is time shifted such that said off-line divided clock is in phase
with said on-line divided clock within plus or minus one-half the clock period of
said off-line clock; and
a clock select control circuit operable to receive said on-line divided clock and
said off-line divided clock from said enhanced digital phase aligner, receive a smoothed
clock, compare said on-line divided clock and said off-line divided clock to said
smoothed clock, and output a clock select control signal to said clock divider selection
circuit.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second clock are identical in frequency,
independent in phase, and the highest resolution frequency available is that of said
first and second clock.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said clock select control signal directs said clock
divider selection circuit to select either a first clock or a second clock as said
off-line clock.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein said clock select control signal directs said clock
divider selection circuit to select either a first divided clock or a second divided
clock as said on-line divided clock.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said clock select control circuit chooses between a
first and second switch time after comparing said on-line divided clock and said off-line
divided clock to said smoothed clock
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a phase lock loop operable to receive said on-line divided clock from said clock divider
selection circuit and output a smoothed clock to said clock select control circuit
and said digital switching network; and
a clock divider jamming circuit operable to receive said on-line divided clock from
said clock divider selection circuit, receive said off-line divided clock from said
enhanced digital phase aligner, receive said clock selection control signal from said
clock select control circuit, output a first clock divider jamming signal to said
clock divider selection circuit, and output a second clock divider jamming signal
to said clock divider selection circuit.
7. The system of claim 5, wherein said clock divider selection circuit comprises:
a first clock divider circuit operable to divide said first clock, receive said first
clock divider jamming signal from said clock divider jamming circuit, and output said
divided first clock;
a second clock divider circuit operable to divide said second clock, receive said
second clock divider jamming signal from said divider jamming circuit, and output
said divided second clock;
a first multiplexer operable to receive said first clock, said second clock, and said
clock select control signal and output either said first clock or said second clock
as said off-line clock based on said clock control select signal; and
a second multiplexer operable to receive said divided first clock, said divided second
clock, and said clock control select signal and output either said first divided clock
or said second divided clock as said on-line divided clock based on said clock control
select signal.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein said enhanced digital phase aligner comprises:
a clock generator operable to receive said off-line clock from said clock divider
selection circuit and generate four phases of said off-line clock;
a phase analyzer operable to sample said on-line divided clock with said four phases
of said off-line clock, select the phase of said off-line clock which is the furthest
from the leading edge of said on-line divided clock, output a spill signal, and output
a phase select control signal based on the sampling of said on-line divided clock;
and
a time shifter operable to receive said off-line clock from said clock divider selection
circuit, receive said sampled on-line divided clock from said phase analyzer, receive
said phase select control signal from said phase analyzer, time shift said off-line
divided clock such that said off-line divided clock is in phase with said on-line
divided clock within plus or minus one-half the clock period of said off-line clock,
and output said off-line divided clock.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said phase analyzer comprises:
a data sampler operable to sample said on-line divided clock with said four phases
of said off-line clock and output multiple data samples of said on-line divided clock;
a control circuit operable to analyze said multiple samples from said data sampler
and select the phase of said off-line clock which is furthest from a leading edge
of said on-line divided clock;
a counter;
a first serial shift register;
a second serial shift register;
a multiplexer; and
a plurality of flip flops.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein said time shifter comprises a tapped shift register,
a flip flop, and a multiplexer.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein said clock select control circuit comprises a mulitplexer
and a plurality of flip flops.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein said clock divider selection circuit is further operable
to receive a first clock, a second clock, and divide said first and second clocks.
13. The system of claim 8, wherein said four phases of said off-line clock can be equal
to zero (0) degrees, ninety (90) degrees, one hundred eighty (180) degrees and two
hundred seventy (270) degrees, further wherein each of the four phases are divided
by two.
14. A system for preventing time-walking in a digital switching network when switching
from a first clock to a second clock where said first and second clock are identical
in frequency, independent in phase, and the highest resolution frequency available
is that of said first and second clock, comprising:
a clock divider selection circuit operable to output an on-line divided clock and
an off-line clock;
an enhanced digital phase aligner operable to receive said on-line divided clock and
said off-line clock from said clock divider selection circuit and output an off-line
divided clock which is time shifted such that said off-line divided clock is in phase
with said on-line divided clock within plus or minus one-half the clock period of
said off-line clock; and
a clock select control circuit operable to receive said on-line divided clock and
said off-line divided clock from said enhanced digital phase aligner, receive a smoothed
clock, compare said on-line divided clock and said off-line divided clock to said
smoothed clock, and output a clock select control signal to said clock divider selection
circuit;
a phase lock loop operable to receive said on-line divided clock from said clock divider
selection circuit and output a smoothed clock to said clock select control circuit
and said digital switching network; and
a clock divider jamming circuit operable to receive said on-line divided clock from
said clock divider selection circuit, receive said off-line divided clock from said
enhanced digital phase aligner, receive said clock selection control signal from said
clock select control circuit, output a first clock divider jamming signal to said
clock divider selection circuit, and output a second clock divider jamming signal
to said clock divider selection circuit.
15. A method for preventing time-walking in a digital switching network when switching
from a first clock to a second clock where said first and second clock are identical
in frequency, independent in phase, and the highest resolution frequency available
is that of said first and second clock, comprising the steps of:
receiving an on-line divided clock and an off-line divided clock at an enhanced digital
phase aligner from a clock divider selection circuit;
outputting an off-line divided clock which is time shifted such that said off-line
divided clock is in phase with said on-line divided clock within plus or minus one-half
the clock period of said off-line clock from said enhanced digital phase aligner;
receiving said on-line divided clock at a clock select control circuit from said clock
divider selection circuit;
receiving said off-line divided clock at said clock select control circuit from said
enhanced digital phase aligner;
receiving a smoothed clock at said clock select control circuit;
evaluating said on-line divided clock and said off-line divided clock with said smoothed
clock at said clock select control circuit; and
outputting a clock select control signal from said clock select control circuit to
said clock divider selection circuit.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein said clock select control signal directs said clock
divider selection circuit to select either a first clock or a second clock as said
off-line clock.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein said clock select control signal directs said clock
divider selection circuit to select either a first divided clock or a second divided
clock as said on-line divided clock.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein said clock select control circuit chooses between
a first and second switch time after comparing said on-line divided clock and said
off-line divided clock to said smoothed clock
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of :
receiving said on-line divided clock at a phase lock loop from said clock divider
selection circuit; and
outputting a smoothed clock from said phase lock loop to said clock select control
circuit and said digital switching network; and
receiving said on-line divided clock at a clock divider jamming circuit from said
clock divider selection circuit;
receiving said off-line divided clock at said clock divider jamming circuit from said
enhanced digital phase aligner;
receiving said clock selection control signal at said clock divider jamming circuit
from said clock select control circuit;
outputting a first clock divider jamming signal from said clock divider selection
circuit to said clock divider selection circuit; and
outputting a second clock divider jamming signal from said clock divider selection
circuit to said clock divider selection circuit.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein said clock divider selection circuit comprises:
a first clock divider circuit operable to divide said first clock, receive said first
clock divider jamming signal from said clock divider jamming circuit, and output said
divided first clock;
a second clock divider circuit operable to divide said second clock, receive said
second clock divider jamming signal from said divider jamming circuit, and output
said divided second clock;
a first multiplexer operable to receive said first clock, said second clock, and said
clock select control signal and output either said first clock or said second clock
as said off-line clock based on said clock control select signal; and
a second multiplexer operable to receive said divided first clock, said divided second
clock, and said clock control select signal and output either said first divided clock
or said second divided clock as said on-line divided clock based on said clock control
select signal.
21. The method of claim 15, wherein said enhanced digital phase aligner comprises:
a clock generator operable to receive said off-line clock from said clock divider
selection circuit and generate four phases of said off-line clock;
a phase analyzer operable to sample said on-line divided clock with said four phases
of said off-line clock, select the phase of said off-line clock which is the furthest
from the leading edge of said on-line divided clock, output a spill signal, and output
a phase select control signal based on the sampling of said on-line divided clock;
and
a time shifter operable to receive said off-line clock from said clock divider selection
circuit, receive said sampled on-line divided clock from said phase analyzer, receive
said phase select control signal from said phase analyzer, time shift said off-line
divided clock such that said off-line divided clock is in phase with said on-line
divided clock within plus or minus one-half the clock period of said off-line clock,
and output said off-line divided clock.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said phase analyzer comprises:
a data sampler operable to sample said on-line divided clock with said four phases
of said off-line clock and output multiple data samples of said on-line divided clock;
a control circuit operable to analyze said multiple samples from said data sampler
and select the phase of said off-line clock which is furthest from a leading edge
of said on-line divided clock;
a counter;
a first serial shift register;
a second serial shift register;
a multiplexer; and
a plurality of flip flops.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein said time shifter comprises a tapped shift register,
a flip flop, and a multiplexer.
24. The method of claim 15, wherein said clock select control circuit comprises a mulitplexer
and a plurality of flip flops.
25. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:
receiving a first clock, a second clock at said clock divider selection circuit; and
dividing said first and second clocks.
26. The method of claim 21, wherein said four phases of said off-line clock can be equal
to zero (0) degrees, ninety (90) degrees, one hundred eighty (180) degrees and two
hundred seventy (270) degrees, further wherein each of the four phases are divided
by two.